Restaurants and TV with Emetophobia

[RainbowRaea]

Does anyone else get super anxious whenever they go out to eat or when they see someone sick on TV?
I just had these random thoughts because my anxiety is awful today and I have an idea as to why. I watch way too much Bar Rescue on Spike and a lot of the time before they fix the bars, the food will make one of the hosts v* or n*, and today that happened on the show and I have been anxious ever since.
My boyfriend and I went to lunch and I watched a lady mess up a customer's burger toppings - he didn't want mustard and she put it on. She scraped it off the burger right back into the bucket and I nearly had a panic attack in the middle of the restaurant (my boyfriend literally had to hold me, I was hyperventilating so badly). I was so afraid I would get sick from something like that that had spoiled meat residue in it.

I also get very anxious when restaurants are really busy, because I am afraid that if a restaurant is too busy that a pissy manager will make a sick worker stay and work regardless.

Anyways - that's my story for the day. Does anyone else get really anxious eating out or watching people v* on TV?

[mdgirl1977]

ok ewwwww at that mustard story. that is just.....ewww.

I watch bar rescue and kitchen nightmares every day and yeah, those scenes are gross and I turn away. I think you get desensitized though. it annoys me but doesn't haunt my thoughts. it's actually good exposure for you!!

[RainbowRaea]

Yeah. I got out to my car and called the manager and told him. I didn't mention her name or anything, I just wanted him to know and that I was worried someone will get sick. He was grateful and said he would take care of it right away.

But yeah. There are days it isn't as bad, and I do feel desensitized. Then some days I get really anxious and jittery over it.

[JMA]

I literally have my husband "pre-screen" movies/tv shows. And when he's seen a movie he knows I'll like, but it has a v-scene, he tells me when to look away and plug my ears.

[anna81]

Eew to the burger story! I don't tend to worry too much about the food when I'm out but if somewhere is crowded I do worry that someone may v. And I do get paranoid about checking if chickens cooked properly.
I think I have managed to desensitise myself to v on the tv now, there are so many shows and films that have it in and it annoys me when it's for no apparent reason! I call it gratuitous v scenes!!! I tried to make myself watch things that I know have v in to get over my phobia but even on tv I get that instant anxious tightening of my stomach!

[Pigatron]

I call them "gratuitous V" scenes too! It happens so much in TV shows, it's ridiculous. I feel like every episode of something my husband and I watch, it happens. When I can tell it's coming (usually), I turn my head. Even though it doesn't bother me so terribly much, I just don't care to see it. Judging by the frequency, you'd think in real life "it" was happening left and right.

[NaiveAndTrue]

I'll turn my head or plug my ears, but I don't let it keep me from enjoying TV. The context helps a lot too. If it's not a reality show or real v* it's easier to watch. Or someone that v*s all the time (Like Steve O on Jackass) won't bother me. I'm mostly afraid now if it's something contagious to ME - my working in Daycare and now in an orthodontist office has desensitized me a lot.

[anna81]

I just remembered an episode of Come Dine With Me where the man cooking said the bowl he was using for mixing was his family's sick bowl!!! I was so mad on behalf of the people eating his food!!! I told my friend who didn't think it was a big deal as long as he'd washed it out, I was like wtf???!!! That's the most disgusting thing someone could do as far as I'm concerned, well one of the most disgusting anyway!!!